Private Security Events Database (PSED) Codebook, February 2019
Please cite the PSED as follows: Avant, Deborah and Kara Kingma Neu. 2019. The Private Security Events Database. Journal of Conflict Resolution. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0022002718824394.Event ID: A unique identifier for each event/observation.Name: The event�s country, date, and type.Event Type describes the kind of occurrence in which the PMSC was involved. Some of the categories come from the Social Conflict Analysis Database (SCAD) (Salehyan et al. 2012).Work (PSCWORKING): An event involving routine work by PMSCs, during which there was no contentious activity, crime, or violence. While performing its normal duties, the PMSC is involved in an incident.Demonstration (DEMONSPON, DEMONORG): A spontaneous or organized group engages in largely nonviolent action directed toward the government or another group, to express their views, gain concessions, or generate change.Riot (RIOTSPON, RIOTORG): A spontaneous or organized group engages in largely violent action directed toward the government or another group, to express their views, gain concessions, or generate change.Strike (STRIKEGEN, STRIKELIM): A group of individuals or union members coordinate to abandon their workplaces in protest, usually with the goal of concessions from their employer or government authorities. A strike may be general or limited.Crime (CRIME, PSCCRIME): An individual or group commits a criminal act to which the PMSC should and/or does respond, or the PMSC is involved in a crime while on duty or in his or her capacity as a PMSC.Violence (VIOLENCEPROGOV, VIOLENCEANTIGOV, VIOLENCEINTRAGOV, VIOLENCEEXTRAGOV, VIOLENCECOMM): A distinct violent event that is carried out by or against the government, armed factions of the government, or opposition groups that are armed or unarmed. This includes repression. The violence may be pro-government, anti-government, intra-government, extra-government, or commercial. Plot (PLOT): A plot to commit a crime or use violence is uncovered. The PMSC is either implicated in the plot, individually or on behalf of a client, or involved in operations to uncover or end it.Region Code:SEA: Southeast AsiaLAM: Latin AmericaAFR: AfricaCountry Code:Three-digit UN code for the event�s country location.Year: The year in which the event occurred.Start Date: The first day on which the event occurred. End Date: The last day on which the event occurred. Events spanning months or years indicates the source(s) did not specify days.City: City in which the event occurred, if mentioned by the source(s).Province: Subnational province or region in which the event occurred, if mentioned by the source(s). Deaths: The best estimate of the number of persons killed in the event.Injuries: The best estimate of the number of persons injured in the event.Note: A �0� indicates the source(s) reported that no one was killed or injured. A missing value indicates the number killed or injured was not reported or could not be determined. Lapse Allegations: Indicates a lapse or alleged lapse in performance of duties by the PMSCs involved in the event.Legal Action: Indicates there was legal action against the PMSCs associated with the event.Services: The service(s) the PMSC performed during the event. Service types span external (typically military) support and internal (or security) support. The service observed may or may not be what the PMSC was contracted for. The categories come from Avant 2005. Site Security: Armed or unarmed guarding of people, places, and things.Operational Support: Armed or unarmed activities on or near �battlefield� in direct support of forces.Military Advice and Training: Advice and training for the military or military-like forces.Police Advice and Training: Advice and training for police forces.Crime Prevention: Coordinated security efforts covering a particular area.Logistical Support: Provision of material or services to support forces.Intelligence: Information collection and analysis.Client: The kind of entity that hired or provided compensation to the PMSC involved in the event. Client entities can be local or transnational, individuals, or groups. In some cases there is more than one client for the PMSCs involved in the event.Commercial: Local or transnational commercial organization.Government: Formally recognized local, national, or foreign governing authority.Rebel: A group involved in armed opposition to a government.Criminal: An individual or group undertaking illegal activity.Civilian: A non-political, non-commercial individual or group.Politician: An individual formally involved in government or politics.Political Organization: An organized group formally dedicated to political activity.Non-Governmental Organization: A domestic or international nongovernmental organization.Intergovernmental Organization: An intergovernmental organization.Allegations of Abuse: Relevant if the event involves alleged human rights abuses. As defined here, human rights abuses involve violations of the right of noncombatants. Most instances involve physical abuse, such as deaths, injuries, or torture.Physical: Violation of the right to physical integrity of noncombatants.Development: Violation of the right to development for individuals or groups.Labor: Violation of the rights of workers, in or involving the workplace.Environmental: Violation of rights to land, natural resources, and the environment.Health: Violation of rights to physical and mental health and well-being.Perpetrator: Indicates the perpetrator(s) of the deaths or injuries.Deaths Type: Indicates the victims in the deaths count.Injuries Type: Indicates the victims in the injuries count.Incident Type: The nature of PMSC involvement in the event. These codes are consistent with the classifications the United States Department of Defense uses to categorize PMSC incidents (https://www.acq.osd.mil/log/ps/index.html) and indicate whether there were PMSC casualties, casualties by a PMSC, weapons discharges, or nonlethal incidents. PSC Casualty or Damage: A PMSC kills or injures people or destroys property.PSC Killed or Injured: A PMSC is killed or injured.Nonlethal Countermeasures: A PMSC employs active, nonlethal measures.PSC Discharged Weapon: a PMSC discharges a weapon but causes no casualties or damage.Weapon Discharged Against PSC: A weapon is discharged against a PMSC but causes no casualties.Organizations: Records the private security company(ies) involved in the event, if mentioned by the source(s).PSC Nationality: Records the nationalities of the private security personnel involved in the event, if mentioned by the source(s).Description: A brief description of the event, with details relevant for variable coding.ReferencesAvant, Deborah. 2005. The Market for Force: The Consequences of Privatizing Security. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.Salehyan, Idean, Cullen S. Hendrix, Jesse Hamner, Christina Case, Christopher Linebarger, Emily Stull, and Jennifer Williams. 2012. �Social Conflict in Africa: A New Database.� International Interactions 38, no. 4: 503-511.